Beating Broke

Personal Finance from the Broke Perspective

These Budget-Friendly DIY Ideas Will Transform Your Master Bathroom

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Your master bathroom should be one of the most luxurious parts of your home. It’s where you go to prepare for your day in the morning and where you unwind at night. However, bathrooms become dated over time, and renovations can be very costly. Fortunately, there are many budget-friendly ways to transform your space.

Transforming Your Space with a Cost-Saving Strategy

If you’re sick of your bathroom, you are certainly not alone. According to Statista, in 2020, 33% of homeowners who renovated their master bathroom did so because they couldn’t stand the way it looked anymore. You might have installed a brand new bathtub or shower, and at the time, you couldn’t wait to bathe, but now it shows signs of wear and tear.

Trends come and go, and what looked stylish 10 years ago will seem dated today. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take inspiration from modern features and current color schemes, but consider that you’re about to devote a lot of time to creating your dream space.

Classic Versus Trendy

A common mistake people make is not separating classic versus trendy styles. Categorize the features in your bathroom that you know are popular right now and the ones you’ve seen in houses throughout the years. If you’re worried about your budget, the more classic styles you follow, the fewer long-term maintenance costs you’ll have.

Create a Blueprint

Before you begin, put a plan in place. It might sound obvious, but once you start building the room, overdoing the space might be tempting. Since you’re on a budget, you’ll need to get creative. Take some time to look at pictures, even if they’re of bathrooms that you could never afford to install as they are, and use that as inspiration for your blueprint.

Start with the basics. If you want to create a more peaceful room, then your instinct might be to pick a color scheme and paint the walls. Now, choosing the right shade will certainly optimize your space, but choosing the right lighting is crucial.

Choosing the Right Lighting

Bright lights can be too strong, and dim lights can be depressing. Overhead ambient lighting should be between 4,000-8,000 lumens. If you’re worried about it being too bright, consider adding a dimmer to tone it down. The lighting around your mirror should be at least 1,700 lumens. You can get creative when you pick the actual light fixtures; they don’t have to be expensive. Many of your local hardware stores will have economical options and a plethora of places to find what you’re looking for online.

Wall and Cabinet Color Schemes

People often use colorful paint on their walls and neutrals for their cabinets. Soft colors like lavender, light yellow, or sky blue will make the room more tranquil. Using a color like navy blue, a dark accent wall can also make it feel bigger. Think about the shades that make you feel the most peaceful, and swatch the walls before you begin, as sometimes the color looks different in the can.

According to a survey, almost 33% of homeowners prefer white finishes for their bathroom cabinets. It gives them a fresh and clean look and guarantees that they will match no matter what color you paint your walls. Even better, white paint costs a lot less than brand-new cabinets.

Decorative Pieces and Keeping Your Space Manageable

Choose some decorative pieces that enhance the space but keep it manageable. There’s a fine line between the two, but you don’t want to go to all this effort for the room to be cluttered. Choose some accent towels, a picture or two for the walls, and some candles.

Home renovations are expensive, but being on a budget shouldn’t stop you from creating your dream space. With some creativity and research, you’ll have a tranquil and inviting bathroom while expressing your style.

6 Tips for Surviving Your 20s When You’re Broke

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Hello, fellow broke 20-somethings! Are you sick of living on instant noodles and dreaming of the day you can afford avocado toast or a five-star meal? Well, worry not. This piece gives you some tips on how to get through your 20s without going bankrupt. So get your piggy bank, and let’s dive in!

1. Have a Budget

A budget may seem obvious, but making one is the best way to manage your money after going broke. Find out how much money you receive each month and where it needs to go. Ensure you have enough for basic needs like rent, utilities, and food before spending on anything else.

Once you have a budget, check your spending carefully to see where to cut back. For example, do you truly require that subscription service to a streaming app you rarely use? Canceling unnecessary expenses can save you a lot of money over time.

2. Give Your Savings Accounts Fun Names

Instead of having a savings account that says ‘Savings Account #100’ when you log in to your bank account, you might want to change the name to something more specific. Maybe it could say, ‘I’m quitting my job in January 2024’ or ‘Going to Maldives in May 2024.’ The more specific you are, the less likely you are to keep taking a little money off the top every time your checking account gets a little low.

3. Be Mindful of Expensive Cosmetic Procedures

Before deciding to get a cosmetic procedure, it’s essential to do your research and fully understand the costs. Don’t just rely on what the plastic surgeon or clinic tells you. Research online and talk to people with similar procedures to understand the possible costs.

Research shows that about 11.36 million plastic surgery procedures were done worldwide in 2019. It indicates that more people know these procedures, so shop around for financing options that are more accessible. Getting caught up in wanting to look better is easy, but remember, stay moderate and spend what you can afford.

4. Avoid Unscrupulous Deals

You might fall victim to embezzlement if you work a white-collar job. Embezzlement is one type of white-collar crime. In this crime, a person mishandles money they are in charge of and uses it in a way that is not allowed. It’s wise to implement solid financial controls like performing regular audits or reviewing financial records to avoid the devastation of embezzlement. Promote a culture of transparency and accountability and save yourself from going broke

5. Be Responsible and Invest in Yourself

A survey says drivers between the ages of 25 and 34 are most likely to be drunk behind the wheel. However, you don’t have to be among them. Choose a responsible life and avoid situations that could lead to such an occurrence. Instead, focus on investing in yourself, like improving your skills or getting an education or training that will help you earn more.

6. Have an Insurance Cover

Insurance can keep you from going bankrupt in your 20s by protecting you from sudden financial losses caused by accidents or things you can’t control. For instance, if you suffer from a severe illness or injury, health insurance can assist in paying your hospital bills. You might have to pay these expenses out of cash if you don’t have health insurance, which can be costly and cause financial strain.

Being optimistic and focused on your goals will help you get through the rough financial times that often plague your 20s. Set yourself up for long-term financial success. Remember, you can make the most of your situation and set yourself up for long-term success with the right attitude and good money habits.

Avoiding Significant Costs With Responsible Actions

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Throughout life, there are bound to be a number of expenses that you’ll have to deal with. You need to know the best ways to handle them as well as some of the things you can do to avoid having to undergo significant expenses. Have a look at the brief guide below to see some of the responsible actions that you can take in order to keep your expenses low and manageable.

Go for Regular Health Checkups

Your health is your biggest form of wealth and it can also be a major expense and liability for you if you’re not careful. To avoid spending a lot of money on health-related expenses, you need to practice prevention. One way to prevent health issues is to visit your health professionals frequently for regular health and wellness checkups.

Attending routine health checkups can help you to identify issues long before they get out of hand and call for a lot of money to remedy them. In the instance of oral health, note that according to the World Health Organization, 16% of people in the United States suffer from tooth erosion, making it the third worst in the entire world. Rather than wait for time to pass until you become one of them, you’re better off visiting your dentist regularly while maintaining a good oral health routine.

Avoid Breaking the Law

Another way in which you can avoid spending money unnecessarily is to stay within the law’s requirements. Failure to do this will see you facing penalties that may involve paying fines or even bail bonds. For the latter, note that bail bond agents are responsible for bailing out around two million people every single year, according to American Progress. This may attract expenses that you could have avoided, such as compensating a bail bond agent for their time and paying interest on the bond amount. Stay informed of any changes in the law so that you can stay aware of the legalities, especially if you have a business.

Secure Your Home

Next, you should ensure that your home is safe from various hazards. To this end, you should set up a security system for your home. A few security cameras and an alarm are enough to scare off would-be burglars. This will save you from the expense of repairing and replacing items that criminals might damage and steal.

You also need to set up a fire security system in your home and remember to change its batteries when necessary. This is crucial when you consider the fact that in 2018, more than a quarter of reported fires were home fires, while 50% of them were from cooking, according to the United States Fire Administration. Securing yourself from such issues can be beneficial to your health, your peace of mind, and your finances.

Drive Safely

Last but not least, you must do your best to drive safely. Auto accidents can lead to a lot of expenses in terms of health and auto repairs. There are far worse scenarios to worry about, so you need to do your best to drive safely and get to and from your destination without any issues. Even if you don’t end up in an accident, you still run the risk of being fined if you’re caught flaunting the law. This may make it a good idea for you to go for a refresher course in driving because this way, you’ll be sure about what you ought to do every mile you drive.

These are just a few of the responsible actions that you can take to avoid spending large sums of money that you could have saved. As you get better at living responsibly, you can set a great example for anyone looking up to you, including children. You’ll be glad to have made the effort to save your money at the end of the day.